SINGAPORE (24 October 2026) – The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), in accordance with the AFF Statutes, is pleased to announce the list of candidates who have been declared eligible to stand for election to the AFF Council for the 2026–2030 term.
The elections will be conducted at the AFF Congress and Elections 2026, which will be held on 15 November 2026 in Manila, Philippines. As the supreme decision-making body of the Federation, the Congress brings together the AFF Member Associations to determine the leadership and strategic direction of the AFF for the next four-year cycle and to continue advancing the development of football throughout Southeast Asia.
The following positions will be elected for the 2026–2030 term:
- President (1)
- Vice Presidents (4)
- Council Members (5)
- Female Council Member (1)
On 14 July 2026, all AFF Member Associations were formally notified of the elections and invited to submit nominations in accordance with the AFF Statutes. Pursuant to Article 31.9 of the AFF Statutes, the nomination period closed at 1700 hrs on 15 August 2026.
Following the close of nominations, the AFF Electoral Committee conducted the required eligibility checks and reviewed all submissions to ensure compliance with the AFF Statutes and all applicable electoral requirements.
Following its review, the AFF Electoral Committee has declared the following candidates eligible to stand for election:
President
1 Major General Khiev Sameth (Football Federation of Cambodia)
Vice Presidents
1 Mr Desmond Ong (Football Association of Singapore)
2 Mr Nilton Telmo Gusmão dos Santos (Football Federation of Timor-Leste)
Council Members
1 Mr Anter Isaac (Football Australia)
2 Ms Vivin Cahyani Sungkono (Football Association of Indonesia)
3 Mr Viphet Sihachakr (Lao Football Federation)
4 Tan Sri Dato’ Hamidin bin Mohd Amin (Football Association of Malaysia)
5 Mr Pye Phyo Tay Za (Myanmar Football Federation)
6 Mr Mariano Araneta, Jr (Philippine Football Federation)
7 Mr Adisak Benjasiriwan (The Football Association of Thailand)
8 Dr Trần Quốc Tuấn (Vietnam Football Federation)
Female Council Member
1 Ms Heather Garriock (Football Australia)
2 Ms Siti Zuraina Abdullah (Football Association of Brunei Darussalam)
The AFF Electoral Committee remains fully responsible for organising, supervising and conducting the AFF Council Elections 2026 in accordance with the AFF Statutes. In carrying out its mandate, the Electoral Committee is committed to ensuring that the electoral process is conducted with the highest standards of integrity, transparency, fairness and independence.
The AFF Congress and Elections 2026 represents an important milestone for ASEAN football. Beyond determining the Federation’s leadership for the next four-year cycle, it provides an opportunity for the AFF Member Associations to reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening governance, advancing football development and shaping the future of the game across Southeast Asia.
The AFF looks forward to welcoming its Member Associations to the AFF Congress and Elections 2026 as together we build upon the achievements of the past, embrace the opportunities of the future and continue our shared journey towards elevating ASEAN football to even greater heights.
#AFF
